Call for new on-call firefighters as part of national recruitment campaign
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is supporting a national to encourage people who have a passion for helping their local community to become on-call firefighters.
The ‘Need More’ on-call fire campaign, led by the National Fire Chiefs Council, is in its third year and runs from 1 - 7 March. It aims to highlight opportunities that are open to people from all walks of life.
Working as an on-call firefighter means being involved in a wide range of activities in your local area from responding to emergency calls to carrying out work in local communities.
In return the fire service can offer flexible work to fit around study, work and family commitments, first class training and development opportunities and a chance to make a difference in your local community.
Moira Bruin, Assistant Chief Fire Officer at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, said:
“On-call firefighters are a vital part of most UK fire and rescue services, and at ECFRS three-quarters of our fire stations are crewed by on-call firefighters.
“We often hear that the reason people don’t apply is that they don’t really understand the role or the benefits.
“I would encourage anyone who lives or works within 5 minutes of an on-call fire station to do their research and consider if it’s something they might enjoy.
“Working in the fire service means you become part of a close-knit team, earn extra money and receive full and ongoing training so you develop a broad range of transferable work and life skills.”
Joe Hassell, NFCC on-call lead said:
“Communities have seen the brilliant work the Fire Service has done in supporting them during the Covid-19 pandemic. Activities that our fantastic on-call firefighters have been involved in have ranged from providing advice to people staying safe at home, driving ambulances, delivering food, prescriptions and supporting mass testing and vaccination efforts as well as continuing to provide emergency response.
“Many people who would welcome the chance to join us in supporting their area but maybe thought they couldn’t consider being a firefighter.
“There will never be a better time to help serve your local community and help save lives. Now is the chance to find out if the fire service is something you can be a part of.”
Fire services are keen to ensure that their workforce reflects the local communities they will work in and so welcome enquiries from all, no previous experience is necessary, but you will need:
- To be at least 18 years old
- A strong desire to support the local community
- Enthusiasm for working as part of a team
- A reasonable level of fitness
- Live or work within 5 minutes to your local on-call fire station
Harry Clack, an on-call firefighter in South Woodham Ferrers, said:
"Being a young driver and motorcyclist, I form part of Essex’s high-risk group for road traffic incidents. This made me want to be a firefighter, so that not only will I be giving back to the public services, but contributing to the safety of my friends, family and other people in Essex.
"It’s a really great feeling to know I’ll be supporting the local community and helping to make Essex a safe place to live, work and travel."
“If you're thinking of applying, do your research on the job and commitment. But don’t overstress on things, the Service has a fantastic training team who will work with you throughout every part of the process.”
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is holding an online Q&A event at 7pm on Thursday 4 March for anyone interested in finding out more about life as an on-call firefighter in Essex. To book your free place visit essex-fire.gov.uk/oncallevent
To find out more about the national on-call recruitment campaign visit oncallfire.uk/
Page last updated 26 February, 2021